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Hospital & emergency care

Come On, Rocco, Let’s Go to the Hospital

Visual preparation and communication support for medical encounters where sensory overload, fear, pain, unfamiliar people, and unfamiliar procedures can make necessary care especially difficult.

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Come On, Rocco, Let’s Go to the Hospital paperback book cover
Paperback visual support resource by Ashlee Savia DeConinck
Rocco smiling outdoors in a blue jacket
Rocco · The child behind the resource

The person at the heart of care

Understanding me is part of caring for me.

Rocco’s experience is why this resource exists. His size cannot tell a care team what he understands, how he communicates, or what helps him feel safe.

A familiar face. A different way to communicate. Someone who knows what helps. Those details belong with the child, wherever care takes him.

Preparation supports understanding

Help make unfamiliar medical care more understandable.

Created from a real emergency department experience after Rocco swallowed an object at school, this resource supports individuals with autism, families, nurses, physicians, emergency departments, urgent care teams, pediatric providers, EMS professionals, and other care partners. It is intended to complement clinical judgment, required training, policy, and individualized care.

Medical preparation

Visual sequences and simple explanations that help preview the hospital, medical professionals, examination steps, and what may happen next.

Pain & body communication

Body-part, feeling, and needs-based visuals for individuals who may communicate pain, fear, hunger, thirst, or discomfort differently.

Sensory & emotional needs

Context for sensory overload, unfamiliar touch, waiting, distress, elopement risk, and behavior that may reflect fear or an unmet need.

Family-clinician information

Structured forms and practical supports that help families communicate essential information and help care teams individualize their approach.

Free companion printables

Visual communication cards and practical sample pages for communication and preparation for unfamiliar healthcare encounters. You can use the free collection without buying the book.

View & print visual supports Download four free hospital sample pages (PDF) ↓Read the hospital sample pages online →
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